Car of the Week: Porsche Macan Turbo

Changing the formula for your best-selling product is a bold move, whether we’re talking cosmetics or cars. Since it first arrived in 2014, the Porsche Macan has been the gateway through which most people pass into Porsche ownership, with the mid-sized SUV proving to be a hit from the get-go. It offered a package that was more practical and high-riding than a 911 but smaller than the Cayenne and it came with a range of potent petrol or diesel engines to choose from. What’s not to like?

So, when the covers came off the new model in early 2024, it was a bit of a surprise to see that Porsche would only be offering the new Macan as an all-electric car, but fear not – while the formula might have changed, the new Macan is still a mighty mid-sized SUV.

Power now comes from a hefty 100kWh battery, of which 95kWh is usable, meaning the top-ranking Turbo trim model produces up to 630bhp and can officially cover 367 miles, or something in the high 200s in the real world, which will suit most. When it comes to pure pace, the Macan Turbo is still cling-onto-the-steering-wheel-for-dear-life kind of fast when basting along the Cairngorms’ spectacular Old Military Road but the acceleration is less hospitalising than the electric Taycan Turbo GT, which does 0-62 mph in a ridiculous 1.9-seconds. Still, the Macan Turbo is knocking on the door of 62 mph from standing in just 3.3-seconds, which is as fast as a 911 GT3, to put things in perspective.

On the inside, there are enough screens to satisfy a city trader, with the option for a third screen in front of the passenger, in addition to the digital dash and centre screen that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As we’ve come to expect from Porsche, the interior arrangement and quality is second to none, with a mix of touch buttons and a few reassuringly physical controls on the steering wheel.

But what’s the cost for such a tantalising blend of performance and practicality? Prices of the Macan Turbo start at £95,000, while the slightly less performance-oriented Macan 4 starts at £67,000. Given its main rivals – the Lotus Eletre and Mercedes EQE SUV come in more expensive than the Turbo – the Porsche is hard to overlook when it comes to a high-performance family electric SUV. Despite the move to batteries, it seems Porsche has hit the spot once again.

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